Hi Roger,

There is a major earthquake preparedness campaign in the works now for the anniversary of the 1906 quake. 4/18/06. I've already expressed my desires to those at UC Berkeley asking for free TV and radio ads which are informative, but short. These should already be in existence as all the steps for those who should be in the loop make it really easy to accomplish.

No doubt individuals should make better preparations, but on the flip side every city in CA has an emergency plan. I seriously doubt we will make it to 2006 before we will have a live demonstration of an earthquake of some note, even if it may only be a 5.0 in the heart of the metropolitan San Francisco Bay Area. Though it may be hard to realize, a 5.0 in Hayward or Berkeley could cause substantial damage and possible loss of life.

As for getting gun shy, I think what happened at Mammoth Lakes is a far greater example than Parkfield. Though the business interests in Mammoth expressed a firm desire for the citizens not to be frightened by predictions of possible explosive activity, the good news was the outcome. First nothing happened and second, another road was built as an escape route, should the need ever arise. According to experts that would be more than 50 years from now.

It seems there is always a plus and minus.

Petra